Keith Roberts

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

The Respondent was instructed by executors to wind up the estate of the late Miss E. He raised bills totalling substantial sums for work purportedly done over many years and transferred money from client to office account without justification and without delivering bills to the executors. The Tribunal found he had not undertaken sufficient work to justify the bills and had been dishonest both in billing for work not done and in transferring the money to office account. He did not appear. He was struck off the Roll and ordered to pay costs of £6,417.15.

Duties found breached:

• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• No improper solicitation or touting

Aggravating factors:

• Dishonestly billed for work that had not been undertaken
• Transferred substantial sums to office account (approx £28,000) to cover firm cash shortfall including staff salaries
• First transfer made before any funds received
• No client care information given; bills raised before probate granted
• Attempted to blame former managing partner